Winnipeg, Canada - Three Sikh priests have been ordered to stand trial for allegedly sexually abusing a young boy for years in a bizarre case that has divided their community.
Bakhshish Singh, 49; Kuljit Singh, 45; and Dalbag Singh, 39, were told the news by a judge after a preliminary hearing Wednesday. A court-ordered ban prevents details of the case from being published.
Police began investigating in December 2006 after the three priests were kidnapped from Gurdwara Nanaksar temple in Winnipeg.
A 26-year-old stormed inside the temple and accused the trio of molesting him from the time he was eight years old until he was 15.
He was armed with a ceremonial sword, which he maintains he was carrying out of religious tradition, and not as a weapon.
The man forced the priests into a vehicle and drove them to his parents' home, where he hoped to have them admit to the alleged sexual abuse while his mother and sister listened.
Police were called and eventually laid numerous charges against all of the parties.
The alleged sex assault victim pleaded guilty to his role last year and was given a suspended sentence and probation.
During the alleged victim's sentencing hearing in 2008, Crown attorney Melinda Murray said the disturbing case has shocked the Sikh community.
"It's clear to me there's been a division within the Sikh temple and the community. . . . There are sides being taken, a big discussion and it's become quite difficult for both sides," she told the court.
Gurdwara Nanaksar is one of only 17 temples of its kind in the world. It's associated with a specific Sikh sect, Nanaksar Satsang Sabha.
There are about 300 members in Winnipeg. Priests at the temple are expected to be celibate, and from ages as young as eight lead a monastic life of meditation and prayer.
Defence lawyer Kathy Bueti told the court during last year's sentencing hearing her client claims to have been sexually assaulted at least 100 times.
She asked the court to take his emotional state into account when sentencing the man for kidnapping.
"He dealt with that and didn't tell a soul. This was the first day he was going to tell another human being on earth what had happened," she said.
Provincial court Judge Catherine Carlson said that while she noted the remorse shown by the man and his compliance with court orders since he was charged, she couldn't condone vigilante justice.
"The courts simply cannot sanction individuals, even individuals who themselves may be victims of horrendous crimes, taking the law in any way into their own hands and confronting their alleged perpetrators," Carlson said.
The three priests remain free on bail. The charges involved alleged incidents between 1990 and 1996.
No trial date has been set.